Government “shilly-shallying” not helping struggling farmers

More support required locally to help environmental gain

North Devon Council is being asked to recognise farmers more in its policy-making amid turmoil in the industry.

With the government’s basic payment scheme (BPS) which provides financial support to the sector due to end this year and the focus shifting to cash for environmental improvements, the council is being urged to engage fully with farmers.

Cllr Liz Bulled (Con, North Molton) said the two should work side-by-side to deliver the environmental gains expected of both the council and rural businesses who manage a significant part of rural North Devon.

“It concerns me that there seems to be no effective rural policy upon which to hang the increasing environmental demands and offsets that are required,” she said.

“Rural North Devon  is central to our visitor economy and food production as well as having the means to deliver many of our environmental aspirations.”

Farmers would be instrumental in carbon offsetting, biodiversity net gain, 30 by 30 expectations (the commitment to protect at least 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030), climate mitigation and water issues, she said.

Cllr Bullied said many other authorities have policies that support their rural areas and economies.

She asked the council to recognise the value of the rural economy in the “current challenging, uncertain, and financially difficult times where government policy is changing at such a speed that rural businesses are struggling to keep up and understand.”

Council chief executive Ken Miles said work is being done to support farmers particularly through the North Devon Plus future farming resilience programme and the North Devon Biosphere partnership to help farmers diversify into tourism.

But councillors said diversification is sometimes hard for farmers who went into the business for food production.

Cllr Matthew Bushell (Ind, South Molton) said the situation isn’t helped by the fast turnover of government ministers and changing goalposts on policy.

Cllr Peter Leaver (Lib Dem, Barnstaple with Westacott) said the government is “shilly-shallying.”

He continued: “There need to be a firm steer politically, we need to be shouting about this. It’s the same with housing and education, we have had more housing ministers than Chelsea football managers in recent years.”

Councillors agreed to hold a public meeting with the agricultural industry and rural stakeholders.